Welfare Charter

Saveourstow would like to see the implementation of a Walthamstow Greyhound Welfare Charter, should racing return to Walthamstow Stadium. We passionately feel that the greyhounds’ welfare must be the single most important aspect of the new Stow. The good reputation of the welfare standards of the Stow under previous management must be built on and improved so that the new Stow’s welfare arrangements are beyond reproach and everybody who attends the track can do so in the knowledge that every single greyhound racing at the Stow has the best possible care whilst it races at the Stow and on his/her retirement. Below are some aspects we would like to see incorporated in to the Charter

WALTHAMSTOW GREYHOUND WELFARE CHARTER

1. Track to have the safest possible running surface , the best possible track shape and for the track to include every possible safety system eg padding, banking, railing etc.

2. Modern, state of the art racing kennels that have comfortable beds and air conditioning, and to be warm in winter.

3. Veterinary surgeon to attend all race/meetings {as per GBGB rules of racing}. NO greyhound to be put to sleep unless the vet and the vet alone considers that it is in the best interest of the greyhound. It is envisaged that this would only be in the case of rare traumatic injury.

4. The appointment of a track vet with specialist greyhound knowledge and experience with strong committed welfare ideals and who would be willing to attend seminars that specialise on greyhound injuries and illness.

5. All trainers to be contracted to the track and only trainers appointed that have the strongest of welfare ideals. Part of the contract will be the Walthamstow Greyhound Welfare Charter. If breached this will lead to dismissal after investigation/enquiry.

6. Consideration to be given to contracts between each owner of the greyhounds and the track to ensure that these standards are understood and upheld by everyone. As with trainers, failure to adhere to these standards will prevent ownership of greyhounds to race at the Stow.

8. A committed welfare manager who visits contracted trainers at their kennels to inspect greyhounds and premises to ensure welfare standards are up to the highest level expected by Stow management. The welfare manager will attend all race meetings to oversee kennelling and a re-homing office.

9. The Welfare Manager will be directly answerable to a committee that will include individuals from outside the management of the stadium to ensure complete transparency and the trust of the public. It is hoped that people such as a local MP/councillors and members of national animal charities will sit on this committee.

10. A reformed Walthamstow Greyhound Owners Association to be formed which will be part of the Welfare Committee. The Owners Association will liaise with the welfare manager and be represented on the welfare committee.

11. Re-homing kennels such as Barley Kennels will be an integral part of the welfare system. The kennels will be fully supported in all respects.

12. There will be complete transparency with regard to retirements/re-homing, racing injuries and deaths due to racing and or injuries. Statistics will be made available to the public and posted regularly on the official website and around the track.

13. An injury database will be maintained and made openly available to the public to ensure all is done to minimise injury.

14. Continued dialogue with Dogs Trust and other animal charities in order that the welfare officer can be kept up to date on all issues and act accordingly.

15. As part of the welfare officer’s job, he or she will go around the community giving talks to school children/the elderly etc to raise awareness about how good greyhounds are as pets and companions.

16. Every effort made to secure a ‘dog-mobile’-a mobile re-homing unit which will travel around the community promoting greyhounds as great pets.

17. Each greyhound’s welfare must be the number one priority for everybody connected with the new Stow.

All donations received will be used solely for the campaign to Save Our Stow. Regular account updates will be posted on our website and any monies remaining at the conclusion of our campaign will be donated to the Retired Greyhound Trust. Thank you for your support.

Local residents, voice your views and opinions

If any local residents would like to contact SOS directly - Rick Holloway is available by email: rickyjholloway@gmail.com or by phone: 07913 325674

Iain Duncan Smith (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions)

Iain will keep up the pressure on L&Q as he is determined to save the Stow for his constituents!

Stella Creasy MP

'In the words of Marks and Spencer, this isn’t just any dog track… this is the Walthamstow Stadium'

Mayor of London

'My vision for the regeneration of this site includes a range of leisure uses and new affordable housing with heritage assets protected and enhanced. Ideally, this would restore greyhound racing to this, its primary and historic home' - Mayor of London, Boris Johnson

Culture Minister

'It's the best surviving and most architecturally interesting vintage stadiums in the country, and a major East London landmark. It is only right that we should celebrate this architectural showpiece to popular entertainment by listing its key components' - Culture Minister, David Lammy

Save Walthamstow Cinema

Save Walthamstow Cinema hopes that Waltham Forest Council take the same decision with Walthamstow Stadium as they did with Walthamstow's EMD/Granada cinema. Namely to help safeguard it's future as one of the borough's most important leisure venues and heritage assets; providing a source of employment, pride, enjoyment and identity for future generations of Waltham Forest residents and visitors.

Residents views

No.1
Simply put L&Q have become a massive organisation and cash rich. They are doing what they want.
The land banking of the Stow site when there is a perfectly viable alternative proposal that will benefit all the community is almost criminal.
The delivery of social housing and affordable homes is now effectively privatised and these large organisations need feeding. I am not surprised they have ignored most of who will be affected as they have never asked anyone if they want the return of the Stow.
I hope the Councillors have seen through all this and refuse any L&Q applications until they learn to consult properly and react accordingly.

No.2
Did anyone notice that in last weeks waltham forest guardian there were no less that 3 seperate articles involving L&Q, In all 3 articles the residents of waltham forest disagree with L&Qs proposals and plans, yet L&Q still maintain “Thats its plans are shaped in consultation with local residents” are they talking about the 6% of local residents that were undecided whether they want greyhound racing to be returned to the “stow”. If L&Q are prepared to brush aside the wishes of 94% of local residents in order to get what they want then this says a lot about them as a charity, In my opinion, even though L&Q say thay will make a loss of £25 million if they redevelop the stow, The executives will probably earn tens of thousands of pounds from tendering contracts to various building companies and trades who will be queing up to do the work, i wonder where this money will go? i doubt if it will end up in L&Qs bank account, maybe thats why they are happy to make a loss of £25 million of taxpayers money so that they can beef up their own bank accounts. This whole affair leaves a very nasty taste in my mouth,
It is now time for the government to step in and put an end to this blatant wastage of taxpayers money and bring those responsable to justice, L&Qs behavior makes the MPs expenses scandal look like petty.